Figure 1. Fire response training by fire department personnel.


Figure 2. Training fire being extinguished by handheld fire extinguisher.


Figure 3. Fireman training in low light conditions in an enclosed space on vessel.


Figure 4. Fire watches in spaces with fire extinguisher.

Potential Hazards:

• No training program in place.
• Infrequency of training.
• Training is not effective or retained.
• Inadequate training.
• Unqualified trainers.
• Insufficient training of subcontractors, temporary workers and non-English speaking workers. 

Requirements and Example Solutions:

General Fire Protection Training

• All workers must be trained on the applicable fire protection requirements (Figure 1). [1915.508(a)]
• All workers must be trained on: [1915.508(b)]
  • Emergency alarm signals, including system discharge alarms and employee evacuation alarms. [1915.508(b)(1)]
  • Primary and secondary evacuation routes to be used in the event of a fire in the workplace. While all vessels and vessel sections must have a primary evacuation route, a secondary evacuation route is not required when impracticable. [1915.508(b)(2)]

Extinguishing Small (Incipient) Fires

• All workers expected to fight incipient stage fires must be trained in: [1915.508(c)]
  • General principles of using fire extinguishers or hose lines (Figure 2). [1915.508(c)(1)]
  • Hazards involved with incipient firefighting. [1915.508(c)(1)]
  • Procedures used to reduce these hazards. [1915.508(c)(1)]
  • Hazards associated with fixed and portable fire protection systems that workers may use or to which they may be exposed during discharge of those systems. [1915.508(c)(2)]
  • Activation and operation of fixed and portable fire protection systems that the employer expects workers to use in the workplace. [1915.508(c)(3)]

Fire Response

• Workers designated for fire response must:
  • Receive additional training on the written fire training policy and standard operating procedures. [1915.508(d)(1) and 1915.508(d)(2)]
  • Review fire response with training programs and hands-on sessions as necessary. [1915.508(d)(3)]
  • Ensure that fire response workers are capable of carrying out their duties and responsibilities. [1915.508(d)(4)]
  • Train new fire response workers. [1915.508(d)(5)]
  • Provide quarterly training on the written operating procedures. [1915.508(d)(6)]
  • Use qualified instructors. [1915.508(d)(7)]
  • Conduct live fire response exercises (Figure 4). [1915.508(d)(8), NFPA 1403-2002]
  • Conduct semi-annual drills. [1915.508(d)(9)]
  • Prohibit the use of smoke-generating devices that create a dangerous atmosphere in training exercises. [1915.508(d)(10)]

Fire Watch

• Each fire watch must be trained:  [1915.508(e)]
  • Before being assigned to fire watch duty. [1915.508(e)(1)(i)]
  • Whenever there is a change in operations that presents a new or different hazard. [1915.508(e)(1)(ii)]
  • Whenever the employer has reason to believe that the fire watch's knowledge, skills, or understanding of the training previously provided is inadequate. [1915.508(e)(1)(iii)]
  • Annually. [1915.508(e)(1)(iv)]
• Fire watch workers must be trained in: [1915.508(e)(2)]
  • Basics of fire behavior, the different classes of fire and of extinguishing agents, the stages of fire, and methods for extinguishing fires. [1915.508(e)(2)(i)]
  • Extinguishing live fire scenarios whenever allowed by local and federal law. [1915.508(e)(2)(ii)]
  • Recognition of the adverse health effects that may be caused by exposure to fire. [1915.508(e)(2)(iii)]
  • Physical characteristics of the hot work area. [1915.508(e)(2)(iv)]
  • Hazards associated with fire watch duties. [1915.508(e)(2)(v)]
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to perform fire watch duties safely. [1915.508(e)(2)(vi)]
  • Use of PPE. [1915.508(e)(2)(vii)]
  • Selection and use of any fire extinguishers and fire hoses likely to be used by a fire watch in the work area. [1915.508(e)(2)(viii)]
  • Location and use of barriers. [1915.508(e)(2)(ix)]
  • Means of communication designated by the employer for fire watches. [1915.508(e)(2)(x)]
  • When and how to start fire alarm procedures. [1915.508(e)(2)(xi)]
  • Employer's evacuation plan.[1915.508(e)(2)(xii)]
• Fire watch must be trained to alert others to exit the space whenever: [1915.508(e)(3)]
  • The fire watch perceives an unsafe condition. [1915.508(e)(3)(i)]
  • The fire watch perceives that a worker performing hot work is in danger. [1915.508(e)(3)(ii)]
  • An evacuation is ordered. [1915.508(e)(3)(iii)]
  • An evacuation signal, such as an alarm, is activated. [1915.508(e)(3)(iv)]

• Records must be kept to demonstrate that workers have been trained. [1915.508(f)]
  • Ensure that records include the employee's name, the trainer's name, the type of training and the date(s) on which the training took place. [1915.508(f)(1)]
  • Training record must be kept for one year from the time it was made or until it is replaced. [1915.508(f)(2)]
  • Make training records available for inspection and copy by OSHA upon request. [1915.508(f)(2)]